BY DR. JAMES COX. 201 



right, and about another 100 yards on becomes much expanded 

 when to the left is seen another large opening, of which we will 

 speak again. 



Here all appearance of the stream ceased, but pools of water 

 were occasionally met with. It became evident, however, that 

 we were in the main channel of the creek, and that during floods 

 this passage was full of water, from the bunches of rubbish 

 perched high up on the ledges of the marble rocks. Our course 

 now for the next hundred yards was easy and dry (all traces of 

 water having disappeared), until we again found daylight. We 

 had in fact reached the opposite side of the rocky barrier across 

 the creek, for undoubtedly it was the main creek we had again 

 reached, commencing from a marble arch in the bluff rocks, 

 but differing in there not being the sign of a drop of water, 

 which from its marks we could see to have been there during 

 floods, nor as far as we could see down this creek, which had 

 very steep banks, could we perceive where the running stream 

 made its escape. To the right of this exit several very interest- 

 ing channels lead off, suspended from the side of one of which is, 

 what is called the sounding-board, a remarkable thin sheet of 

 marble, and from it Mr. Oxley brought forth sounds of sweet 

 melody, which reverberated on all sides. 



To all appearance this was the end of the cave. But what 

 had become of the water ? 



Looking down the creek, from the mouth at this end, about a 

 hundred yards up the bank to the left, is seen a native fig tree, at 

 the base of which is a small unattractive-looking opening, the 

 only known entrance from the surface, but I doubt if it is the 

 only means of entering what are termed the " Fig Tree Caves." 

 At this mouth we found some fine specimens of the dog-tooth spar. 



On entering here lights became necessary at once, as the 

 footing is very dangerous, deep crevices occurring on all sides, 

 till the cavern suddenly expands to an unknown extent. After 

 feeling our way carefully to the left, and having got on a firm 

 footing, a blue light revealed to us its magnificence. The 

 grandeur of the natural sculpture is here very great, and the 

 thickness and length of the stalactities and stalagmites wonderful, 

 but they are not so purely white as those before seen. The floor 



